Stories

Meet the Off-Road Family

We had the chance to join Vinnie Moreno and his “off-road family” in a swamp somewhere off a beaten path in Jacksonville, FL to talk off-roading and how their Solo Stoves help them build their community.

For Vinnie and his band of off-roaders, mud is thicker than water.

“It’s always good to surround yourself with people you can count on.”

Vinnie, how important is community in the off-roading world?

“I’m a public affairs specialist in the United States Coast Guard. The Coast Guard motto is ‘Semper Paratus,’ which means ‘Always Ready.’ You’ve got to be ready to get up and go at the drop of a dime. That plays a big role in the off-road community as well. If you go out there unprepared that’s most likely when something bad will happen. It’s better to go out with a group of people. They’re going to be able to help you if you get stranded, broken down, or if you get stuck in a muddy hole like we went through today. It’s more than just trucks. It’s a family.”

“I’m untethering from the world and getting a little mud on the trucks.”

What do you bring to your off-road family?

“Everyone in the off-road community brings something to the table. I feel like one of the things I bring to the community when we go out on trips is my Solo Stove. It’s kind of funny, but before coming here today, I didn’t know others in the community were Solo Stove owners. The more fire pits around, the merrier!”

“I bring my daughter with me because I just want to teach her about the outdoors, and there’s nothing to be afraid of. If you want to go out and have fun in the woods, have fun in the woods.”

Why does your off-road family bring their Solo Stoves on the road?

“It’s awesome to be out in the woods getting muddy and coming together at the end of the night to circle around a nice fire. It’s just that energy the Solo Stove brings. It’s mesmerizing. The crackle, the pop, and the color brings people together and forms a community.”